Gingerbread House Recipes
and Ideas

Gingerbread house recipes can look rather intimidating but if done
step by step or an easier version they can be great fun for kids and
a chance for their creativity to shine.

Planned Kids Cooking Curriculum

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In mixing bowl beat shortening, sugar, molasses and water together
until well blended. Then add in baking soda, ginger, allspice,
cinnamon, cloves and salt. Blend together and add flour. Form into a
ball and chill for 1-2 hours. Roll out dough onto a floured surface
and using templates or make your own cardboard house dimensions cut
out pieces. Bake in a 375 degree oven for 8-10 minutes. Don't allow
to brown. Lay your pattern pieces on top of the cooked gingerbread
and trim if needed. The dough may have spread while cooking and you
want your pieces to fit nicely together. Let cool and construct your
gingerbread house.

Here is a gingerbread
house template you can download.
Buttercream Frosting
You can also use a royal icing
to decorate gingerbread houses.
½ Cup shortening
3 ½ Cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon clear vanilla (other vanilla is okay also but the
frosting won't have a pure white look)
¼ teaspoon almond extract
3-4 Tablespoons of milk (add less for a thicker frosting) In mixing
bowl, add all ingredients and blend together. If using different
colors separate into smaller bowls and add coloring.

Putting Your Gingerbread House Together

Prepare a serving tray or square piece of cardboard for the base of
your house. Pipe frosting on edges of sides and attach together. Let
dry for 20-30 minutes. Then attach the roof. Let dry another 20-30
minutes or overnight if your kids can wait that long! Then let the
decorating begin.

Easy Graham Cracker Gingerbread House

Square box or small 8 oz. milk carton
graham crackers
White frosting
decorations
Place your box on a serving platter or tray. With the frosting
attach graham crackers on each side of the milk carton. Then attach
the roof with two crackers pointing up. Leave the house out to dry
overnight. Then decorate however you choose.